Shropshire gritters to hit the roads as temperatures set to plunge below freezing

The gritters are being rolled out in Shropshire as the county braces for minus figures.

With temperatures set to drop below freezing overnight on Thursday, gritters are being rolled out around the county.

It comes as the first yellow cold health alert of the season was announced by the UK Health Security Agency and The Met Office.

Shropshire Council said its gritters would be out from 6pm on Thursday, treating all A and B roads plus local “high risk” sites.

The council’s team of gritters include twenty that were named following a public vote in November 2020 and include Snowcial Distancing, Spreddie Flintoff and David Plowie.

Four are named after, or in memory of, local boys, and one is named after former Shirehall car park attendant, Percy Mullaly.

Telford & Wrekin’s grit teams headed out for the first time on Wednesday, November 11.

Councillor Nathan England have thanks to the teams, who work overnight in freezing temperatures, to keep the borough’s roads moving.

“It’s not an easy job, and most people won’t even see the work taking place; but it makes a real difference to thousands of people getting to work, taking their children to school, and going about their daily lives,” he said.

“But even with all that preparation, gritting can’t remove every risk. So I’d encourage everyone to check the weather before setting off, allow a little extra time for journeys and drive to the conditions, even on roads that have already been treated.”